Rocket machine gun



E. HOLLOWAY ROCKET MACHINE GUN March 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 10, 1948 March 27, 1951 E. HoLLowAY 2,546,823

ROCKET MACHINE GUN Filed Nov. 10, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V j #Il zza) INVENTOR.

Erna@ /70 Non/ay ATTRNEYS March 27, 1951 E. HoLLowAY ROCKET MACHINE GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 10, 1948 INVEN TOR. f'fvesz HO//owag 5% NWN L vm www mm w ATTU R N EYS E. HOLLOWAY ROCKET MACHINE GUN March 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. lO, 1948 March 27, 1951 EQ HoLLowAY 2,545,823

` ROCKET MACHINE GUN Filed Nov. l0, 1948 V5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V v l INVENTOR. Erf/76s /o//owog ATTE! R N EYS Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE ROCKET MACHINE GUN Ernest Holloway, Cleveland, Ohio Application November 10,1948, Serial No. 59,205

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ordnance, and more particularly to a rocket-launching device for aircraft.V

An object of the invention is to provide an aircraft rocket-launching device which will provide a novel offensive weapon for the aircraft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aircraft rocket-launching device for dispatching a rocket of the reaction type formed with a self-contained charge.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aircraft rocket-launching device for ring in rapid succession a rocket of greatv caliber of high destructive power.

A further object of the invention is to -provide an aircraft rocket launcherin which there is a minimum of recoil, although dispatching a relatively heavy shell of great destructive possibilities.

A still further object of the invention is to provide ka novel aircraft launcher for rocket projectiles which is foolproof and eicient in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elongated fragmentary top plan view of the ring chamber and conveyor belt of the aircraft rocket launcher, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the aircraft rocket launcher;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the firing chamber door in open position;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the firingv chamber, with a rocket in firing position therein;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the firing chamber door 'in open position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the belt roller and parts thereof in section;

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing the mechanism for electrically ring the rockets;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken 0n the line of Figure 4;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line |2-|2 of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the clips for reinforcing the belt;

Figure 14 is a top plan view with parts broken away of an aircraft provided with a pair of rocketlaunching devices, according to the present invention. A

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20, Figure 14, designates a conventional airplane provided with a pair of rocket-launching devices 2| therein, and as each of the rocket-launching devices has the same construction, only one will be described in detail.-

The rocket-launching device comprises a hol-` low cylindrical firing chamber 22-provided with a forwardly-projecting `barrel 23-` for the dis charge therethrough of a rocket24. lThe ring.,

chamber 22, Figure 4, rests on a plate 45 which is supported by uprights 46 that `project froma bottom wall 41. The bottom wall 41 is secured by boltseto a housing 48 which partially surrounds the firing chamber' 22I and serves to protect the aircraft from heat generated in the ring chamber. A rocket 24 has ns 25 secured to the rear end for guiding the missile in ight. A burster 26 fabricated of suitable powder for propelling the missile is arranged intermediate the fins 25 and a fuse 21 is connected to--the rear end of the burster 26 for igniting the latter.

A conduit 28 is threaded into theback wall 29 which is threaded into the rear of the firing chamber for `the egress therethrough of exhaust gases resulting from the firing of the rocket. The fins 25 of the rocket 24 rest on an arcuate` plate 30 which projects into the ring chamber and has one end secured tothe back wall 29. For centering the rocket 24 in the firing chamber. Figure '7, a pair of spaced radially-disposed sockets 3| are arranged in the interior wall of the ring chamber. YA coil spring 32 is positioned in the socket and maintained therein by a retain: ing member 34: 'I'he coil spring 32 biases a lug 33 into engagement with the exterior surface of the rockets 24 to center the latter..

For automatically firing the rockets 24, a cutout 35, Figure 4, is formed in the Ybottom of the firing chamber 22, there being a plate 36 extending across the cut-out and secured to the bot# tom of the firing chamber by rivets 3l. Slidably projecting through a, pair of spaced apertures 38 in theplate 36 arethe legs 39 of a U-shaped yoke 49 which is adapted to be engaged by and depressed by each rocket as it enters the ring chamber. A pair of coil springs 4| act as shock absorbers and are circumposed on the legs 351 for normally biasing the yoke 40 downwardly. The lower ends of the legs 39 engage a horizontallydisposed strap 42 Whose lower surface is in engagement with one end of a lever 43 which is pivotally connected by means of a pin se, Figure 4, to the firing chamber. The lever i3 projects through an opening 49 in the plate 45 and a spring 50 is secured by .a rivet r`5I to the under surface of the plate 45 land engages a portion of the lever 43 for pivoting the lever to bias the yoke le upwardly when there is no rocket in the firing chamber 22. An elongated rod 52 has one end pivotally connected to the projecting end :of ithe lever 43 and its other end pivotally connected to a link 53 which is mounted for swinging movement on a pin 54 that is dependingly carried :by a pair of lugs 55 which are secured to the back Wall 29. The other end ofthe link 53 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod 55 whichV is arranged adjacent the exterior -fof` the back -wall 29 and is slidably supported by' a'bracket 5l that is x'secured to -theback-'wall 29'iby rivets 153.

Secured to the upper end of Athe rod 5% by a -bolt`59 is ating-B53 fhavirrg'a pair'of 'spaced 1p1=ojecting meta-l contacts 6l ltlfiereon y'for a purpose to l'be subsequently described. The ring 55! slidably projects through the wall of asleeve 59. The

sleeve 69 Yembraces v"the projecting end of `a port member or housing -52 aand arranged in this projecting lend is 'a lfirst 'insulated spacer :disc vtilhich carries -a `pai-r of electrical conductor ca- ,bles' 64 :that `Llead to =a lsource of electrical energy such as the aircraft batteryY (not shownl). Arranged lin spaced, vparallel relation fwith respect v'to 'the 'rs't -spacerfdisc 5 8, Figui-es 4, 10 `and il, 'isa spacer disc 65 vmade oflsuitahle "insulation andfprojecting-from the disc '65 "isa -pair of electrical cables 66 --vvh-ich vare electrically connected to a hot Tplate 6i which is :secured within lthe support member B2, the 'h'ot plate El ,having an arcuate Vfront face for rselective engagement with Vrocket -fuse 25. Thus, inoperation, whenaf-rocket 24 is Iin the ringchamber, the yoke "im fis moved downwardlyagainst the force of the Ispring '59 vto thereby Vmove vthe -ring i60 ydownwardly so Ythat 'the contacts'v'l on the ring 6B `wi-llclose the relectric circuit 'leading to vthe ho't plate 6l and heat the latter to `tlierejby ignite the Efuse 2'? and nre `the rocket. In Figure 4 there is shown avertical s ectional view, while Figure '10 vis aV horizontal sectional View. v

l The projecting end of the support member G2 isslidably mounted in anopening 1 6 ,in the back `.Wall 2 9 .so that the Af ace of thejhot plate can :be moved into ,engagement with the fusev 2i, when the rocket .is rto .be fired. "For causing ks'lidni movement .of the support .member 6 2, aring or lug z'li isj`secured to the.. outerjprojectne end; o vthe :Supportmember 62 .and is pivotally connected bye pin til `to .the leg's`72 of ,a rod 7.3 and aco'l Spring I 5 bia-sosa roller 1 8 into engagement lv lith ,a camsurface l5. Therad 7 3 is pivotallyconnected intermediate its' ends'to the exterior of the back wall 2 9 by means of `a pin 'M which Vis .supported jin a bracket l5. Secured to the `other 'end c fy the rod 113 Ais va frame Il `carrying a rotat-y able roller 8 which is adapted'to be yengaged 'by one of the projecting cam surfaces '1 6 which are arranged in spaced-'relation .onlone end of the cylindrical roller "i1 to 'thereby pivot the rod '73 and .move the support member. This is a safety feature of the device since the support member 6 2 carrying the 'hot pl'atejl will be moved backwards after each rocket^24 'is fired'and will be 4 moved forwardly to ignite the fuse 21 only when the rocket is ready to be lred.

The roller 'Il is rotated by a shaft 18 which extends longitudinally therethrough. A pair of spaced braces 'E9 provided with suitable bearings on the upper ends support the shaft 78 and roller Tl and the lower ends of the braces 79 extend through openings 8o in the housing 68 and are secured .to the .bottom thereof. The roller T is provided withga sprocket fBI :on .each end, Figure 8, and each sprocket includes a plurality of spaced, projecting sprocket teeth 82 which register with the spaced openings 33 along each side of :a'rv'iderubber belt 84. The belt 815 is trained overtheroller 'El and is also trained over al rotatable shaft B5 which is spaced from the roller f'ifl' ;and.is supported.on brackets 8G, Figure 14.

The belt 84 serves to convey the rockets 24 into the ring chamber v.22, and the belt is provided with a plurality of transversely-disposed, spaced, parallel, rectangular slots 26.1', ithere 'ibreing aipa'ir `of spaced, parallel, .arcuate straps 88 t.eX-

tending below each of the slots 81., Figure :1, zand'v will `insure that the rockets .2d are vplaced prop-'v erly in the ring chamber 22 'to be .fengaged'lby the :movable -het plate T51 The cylindrical roller TE is provided `with ia plurality @of -longitudinallyl extending, spaced, lparetllel cut-outs d!! :which ire-l ce'i-ve :the rockets 24 as they reach-the Vroller and upon continued rotation of the roller 1I, the rockets r223 Vare 'deposited lin the -iring chamber. The roller ll -"has a pai-r of spaced, parallel, an-` nular grooves 'SL -Figure A8, ther-ein, fso that 'the straps E38 of the-belt can-pass therethrough. The side edges of thebelt '58e 'are reinforced by means of la plurali-ty of vspaced metalfcl'ips vor -clam-ps 92, Figure '-13. Each Iclip includesa pai-roi side walls e3 and se for embracing la portion fof the lbelt eli, there being an opening H4 in each of ithe side walls 93 vfor registering with topenings -33' 1in 'the belt 185 vso 'that the sprocket "teeth 82 scan pass' therethrough. The side walls vcarry sharp tips 95 for fastening the clip onto the belt '815. l

' The rshaft 28 rotates in 4a counterClOCIrVv-iSeI direction, as shown in Figure '14, and has secured `to one end thereof a rst gear 9E which meshes with a second. gear 9 7 that vis 'secured to a shaft 9B. The shaft SB is supported on bearing blocks 59 'and is rotated bya `suitable motor `I'll',A "Fig 111.814. n. 51T:

'The firing chamber 22 fis Vprovided witha slid; ing door IM which is selectively opened,fligre Yto permit a rocket '2d to be .depositedin the rin'g 'chamber and the door is then closed, Figure 2, whi le the rocket is fired. l A slidingjdoor le! carries a pair of pins 152 which move in 1recesses in the wall of the ring cham-ber, 'there is also a cutaway portion 1631Figuv1e 5 fin the exterior of the firing .chamber wall for permitting sliding movement as when the door is opened.`

.For opening and closing the door I'l, a ange |66 is secured to the door. A stop member T55 projects from the exterior of the iiring chamber 22 for abutting the flangeV ITM to limit closing movement of the door. A rod |06 'has one end r:Phe straps' connected to the flange |04 and its other end pivotally connected to one end of a lever |91. The other end of the lever |91 is pivotally connected to a b ar 108 which is secured to the back wall 29 by rivets |09. A. spring H9 connects the lever |i'31nto the bar 98 for normally causing the leverxto be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direct-ion to thereby normally urge the door 22 to its closed position, Figure 2. Mounted on the shaft 18 adjacent the end thereof is a plurality of radially-disposed cam members III which engagethe lever 101 to pivot-ally move it in a clockwise direction to thereby cause the rod |06 to open the door 03 to permit a rocket 24 to be positioned in the firing chamber. Upon continued rotation of the shaft 18, the tips of the cam members, Hi slide past the lever |51 and the spring lllgbiases the lever |01 in a counterclockwise direction to close the door.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The rocket-launching devices are positioned in spaced relation in the aircraft, as shown in Figure 14, soA that the barrels 23 project forwardly. Then, the belts 84 are loaded with the rockets 24, the rockets being supported on the straps 88, and `upon actuation ofthe motor |90, the shaft 18 carrying roller 11 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction to feed the rockets one at a time to the ring chamber 22. Just as each rocket 24is to be fed into the firing chamber 22, the sliding door IDI is opened and after each rocket enters the firing chamber, the sliding door is closed. After the rocket 24 is arranged in the firing chamber, the support member 62 carrying the hot plate 61 is moved forwardly so that the face of the hot plate 61 moves into engagement with the fuse 21 of the rocket 24. The weight of the rocket 24 on the yoke 40 moves the ring 60 downwardly to establish electrical contact with the hot plate 61 igniting the fuse 21 to thereby fire the rocket and the exhaust fumes pass out through conduit 28. Immediately after the rocket is fired, the roller I8 will be out of contact with the cam surfaces 16, so that the support member carrying hot plate 61 will be moved safely backwardly in the firing chamber. This cycle is repeated, whereby a great number of the rockets are fired in rapid succession.

I claim:

l. In a rocket-launching device for an aircraft, a firing chamber, a sliding door operatively connected to said chamber for permitting rockets to be deposited in the latter, a barrel projecting from the forward end of said firing chamber a rotatable roller positioned adjacent said firing chamber, a shaft extending longitudinally through'` said roller and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a second shaft positioned in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said roller, a belt trained over said roller and said second shaft for conveying rockets to said firing chamber, a means operatively connecting said roller to said door for opening and closing the latter, means in said chamber for firing said rockets through said barrel, and a plurality of spaced clips connected along the side edges of said belt for reinforcing the latter.

2. In a, rocket-launching device for an aircraft, a firing chamber, a. sliding door operatively connected to said chamber for permitting rockets to be deposited in the latter, a barrel projecting from the forward end of said firing chamber a rotatable roller positioned adjacent said firing chamber, a shaft extending longitudinally through said roller and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a second shaft positioned in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said roller, a belt trained over said roller and said second shaft for conveying rockets to said firing chamber, a, means operatively connecting said roller to said door for opening and closing the latter, means in said chamber for firing said rockets through said barrel, a plurality of spaced clips connected along the side edges of said belt for reinforcing the latter, and resilient means mounted in said ring chamber for maintaining said rockets centered therein.

3. In a rocket-launching device for an aircraft, a firing chamber, a sliding door operatively connected to said chamber for permitting rockets to be deposited in the latter, a barrel projecting from the forward end of said firing chamber a rotatable roller positioned adjacent said firing chamber, a shaft extending longitudinally through said roller and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a second shaft positioned in spaced, parallel relation with respect to said roller, a, belt trained over said roller and said second shaft for conveying rockets to said ring chamber, a means operatively connecting said roller to said door for opening and closing the latter, means in said chamber for firing said rockets through said barrel, a plurality of spaced clips connected along the side edges of said belt for reinforcing the latter, resilient means mounted in said firing chamber for maintaining said rockets centered therein, and a housing spaced about said firing chamber for protecting` said aircraft.

4. In a rocket-launching device for an aircraft, a firing chamber, a door operatively connected to said chamber for permitting rockets to be deposited in the latter, a barrel projecting from the forward end of said firing chamber, a rotatable roller positioned adjacent said firing chamber, a shaft extending through said roller and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a second shaft positioned in spaced relation with respect to said roller, a belt trained over said roller and said second shaft for conveying rockets to said firing chamber, a means operatively connecting said roller to said door for opening and closing the latter, means in said chamber for firing said rockets through said barrel, and spaced clips connected along the side edges of said belt for reinforcing the latter.

ERNEST HOLLOWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,849,205 Rypinski Mar. 15, 1932 2,088,503 Broussard July 27, 1938 2,440,723 Macdonald May 4, 1948 2,450,929 Ashworth et al Oct. 12, 1948 2,451,522 Uhl et al Oct. 19, 1948 2,451,745 Jolly Oct, 19, 1948 2,458,476 Lauritsen et al Jan. 4, 1949 2,464,920 Carter Mar. 22, 1949 

